A Ponce Inlet ice cream shop is beginning a new chapter — one that may come with a smaller footprint, but none of the spirit lost along the way.
Following its recent relocation, Lighthouse Ice Cream, now housed in front of Hidden Treasure Rum Bar & Grill at 4940 S. Peninsula Drive, has reopened with its same wildly topped shakes, playful flavors and familiar charm that’s long made it a go-to among locals and vacationers alike.
For best friend owners Kim Canny and Heather Highfield, however, the magic of the shop has never stopped at the ice cream counter, but continues to be found in familiar faces, traditions and moments shared over chocolate-dipped cones.
Why did Lighthouse Ice Cream move?
After more than four years across from the historic Ponce Inlet Lighthouse & Museum, the ice cream shop was informed in November that its lease would not be renewed.
“We love our ice cream shop, and the community loves our ice cream shop. So, we immediately put out feelers … and we just started calling everybody,” Highfield said, receiving several relocation recommendations, including the former gift shop at Hidden Treasure.
“The really cool thing for us is that John Hinton, who owns the property, and Scott (Weber), who owns Hidden Treasure, were just extremely supportive,” she continued.
In March, the duo announced news of their new location on Facebook and by late April, began welcoming guests.
What’s on the menu at Lighthouse Ice Cream in Ponce Inlet?
The shop serves a full lineup of hand-scooped Hershey’s Ice Cream flavors — including gluten-free options — available in a cup or homemade waffle cone.
Flavors range from banana pudding to strawberry cheesecake, Brookie Dough Blast, Moose Tracks and Key lime pie.
In addition to its floats and traditional sundaes, guests will find “Sand Pail Sundaes” on the menu — a coastal creation served in a small or large beach bucket that doubles as a useable souvenir for kids planning to hit the sand after visiting.
The shop’s over-the-top Extreme Shakes, described as a “sugar high,” are arguably what the local shop is best known for, be it the Shark Bite Shake or Cookie Monster, towering with whipped toppings, gummy candies, brownies and more.
New to the menu are at least eight different flavors of Hyppo fruit pops, each made with real, fresh fruit, the duo noted.
“We’re super excited to partner with them. They make all of the popsicles in St. Augustine … and we felt like it was an excellent alternative for non-dairy and people that want to be more health-conscious,” Highfield said.
“Another reason why we brought them in was because we went from 1,500 square feet down to 260 square feet, so we had to change our menu,” Canny added. “We don’t sell food anymore — which we don’t need to because the (Hidden Treasure) is here — and we got rid of shaved ice.”
The making of Lighthouse Ice Cream
The shop’s previous 4958 S. Peninsula Drive location had housed a number of businesses over the years before becoming Lighthouse Ice Cream — including a seasonal ice cream shop where Highfield’s daughter, alongside many other local teens, often worked serving scoops behind the counter.
Long considered a community staple, the space carried a sense of nostalgia. So, when the previous owner offer Highfield the chance to take over, she knew it was an opportunity she couldn’t let slip away — and a job she couldn’t do alone.
“I knew how much the kids loved it, and I wanted it to stay in the community because that’s what it was — it was about all the kids in the community that just worked a day or two, rode their bikes here and, you know, it was the only thing that was open,” Highfield said, confident Canny, a Connecticut native who’d grown up in the restaurant business, was the perfect partner.
“… (Canny) had always said, ‘I want to own a restaurant’ … So, I called Kim and said, you know, ‘It’s not exactly a restaurant, but it’s food,” she laughed.
Since its opening 2021, the brand has been synonymous with community — sponsoring local events at the Marine Science Center, supporting Port Orange-based non-profit Simon’s Angels, and partnering with the Ponce Inlet Garden Club for annual fundraisers.
With roughly 20 team members, the shop employs primarily high school and college students.
“That’s part of what we love. The young man who’s working here today, he started at 15 years old with us, and he’s a freshman in college now. His mom brought him to his interview; she drove him, because he didn’t even have his license yet,” Canny said.
“He bought his first car with all of his ice cream money and now, he uses it to pay for his books,” Highfield added. “So, it’s really cool … and it teaches them life skills more than anything.”
Looking ahead, Lighthouse Ice Cream is hopeful about plans for expansion into downtown Daytona Beach.
“We would like to be a part of the revitalization of the downtown Beach Street area,” Highfield said. “… We don’t know if it’ll happen or not, but we see so much potential down there … and we want to create something for the community, the same way we did here.”
Lighthouse Ice Cream is open from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. daily. For information, call 386-262-5822 or visit facebook.com/ponceinleticecream.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Bucket sundaes, crazy shakes return at brand-new Ponce Inlet location
Reporting by Helena Perray, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
